The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-08
Literature.

"sister Republic OF the south mat II h'
been our good fortune 10 come across. Al
though Mexico has been much in dang-l
of being written up to death, MIR. Gritht
gives US in most excellent English (unusu
ally good, for j,urnali'tc Euglish) n thor
oughly new picture of Mexico Of to-day, ahc
one that is realistic 10 degree. Viewing
the country with II journalists eyes, he does
not, from his training, gush unnecessaTl }
over the "aesthetiCs' Of the new scenes "a
the expense of fairness 10 the reader, nor dc
any prejudiceS he may have seem to war;
| his Judgment as 10 the real condition ol
the country socially and politically The
present writer cannot from personal knO"l
edge of the land, question or affirm MS
statements; but the whole work has an all
of fairness about it that Is characteristic If
an honest journalist, and everything is te
interesting detail that is the province ct
tho true journalist The result is a ri Nur
uf the country that is not only most inter
es,ing reading but would have a real value
10 any one alb ut TO make the country a
visit for pleasure or profit II does indeed,
give the reader mue complete idea OF
the real social and political condition Of
the people, and the signs Of the Times
in Mexico than any series of letters We
have yet seen
We are indebted to the H0rp,yS llnd A.
McClurg Il Co., 1lJ Wabash Avenue, chi.
clgo) for bound volume Of U0rperS'
YolIAg FoWs for 1886. What gift this
must have been TO hundreds of young
folks at Christmas! The little weekly new.
ar comes too often 10 suit even the old
folks but to give a smart boy or girl ear.
ly on the teens 81 numbers In a lump,
bound-why it fairly takes ones breath
away to think of it! The letter press Is
perfect, but the illustrations are royal and
volume of this kind ought TO make a
child happy whole year round. price
$3.50.
The Popular Science NoaMly for JAN
uary is particularly good, even compNred
with other numbers Of the same monthly
Prof Sumner opens with a valuable article
what makes the Rich richer and the Poor
poorer" and unlike most articles on such
subjects finds an answer The article Is
worth reading. "Manua! Instruction" is
treated by Sir John Lubbock, whose expe.
rience especially qualities him for dis
cussion of a subject that every day is call,
ing for more intelligent and earnest discus,
sion. II Is a subject that educators and
economists outside Of cities should pay
more attention to. for the manual helpless.
ness Of our youth Is one of the marked
features of present educational methods
which should be changed. THE Mis-.
government Of Cities by F. p. Crandon is
also n subjectthat even our Ottawa tax pay
ers can study with profit The other papers
of the number cover wide range of scen.
titic subjects of decided interest.
To the people of Illinois, the opening
chapters of the Life Of Lincoln" in the
Century are of special interest All his
earlier political experiences were in ILL.,
nois, and history of that part of Lincoln's
life is history of The political and indeed
social history of Illinois until 1861. The
part of the History included ia his Deem
Der number relates to Lincoln In Spring.
field; the first clash with Douglas, the
Log Cabin and Hard Cider ppaign
Lincolns marriage; his relations with the
Speeds of Kentucky; the Shields duel
the campaign of 1914; and Lincoln's devo-
ton to Clay. Tie paper has number of
pictures, portraits, and docu.
ments. Another biographical feature OF
his number is the production Of the first
sketch Of Bancroft, the hlsto-
Ian Edward AtKinson's Relative Streng h
and Weakness of Nations" is rich store.
louse of facts which are set before the
'eader In a manner easily to he grasped, by
means of graphic diagrams presenting
such resumes as the following: l. The
Comparative Areas of Nations: 2 Their
Relative Population; 3 our National Do
main; its area in actual use, and how il is
tppurtiOned among the 'rTealS, together
With an estimate OF what amount of pas
ure land might suffice; 4 The Popnla-
ion of the United States from 1860 To 1890
or computed; ) Miles of
Railways in the United States from 1865 to
1856; q, Charge Per ton per mile; Z.
train Crops; 5 Product Of Grain per
Capita; 8 Hay Crop; 10 Product OF
Pig iron; II. Cotton Crops; y, Pro.
yress and Wealth; ID. Growth of Life
insurance; Ii. The Wages of Workmen;
ID. Deposits in the Massachusetts Savings |
banks; Is. The Public Debt of the Uni
ed States. Among the far,reaching and |
suggestive conclusions of Mr. Atkinson's
paper, one of the most striking is that, in
he face Of the competition of a free peo-
pie, having such a record of material pros |
)erity, European nations must "disarm or
,tarve"
The January Forum fully maintains its
,ast years high character, and presents
inc of able articles. The leader" is Ma
ional Divorce Legislation" by Judge
lappatt In which tho pacaositv for nation